Users of the popular WhatsApp messaging service need to update their iPhone and Mac apps to install an important security patch. In a security advisory document, WhatsApp provides details of a vulnerability in WhatsApp for iOS, WhatsApp Business for iOS, and WhatsApp for Mac that could allow a threat agent “to trigger processing of content from an arbitrary URL on a target’s device.”
Documented as CVE-2025-55177 in the National Vulnerability Database, the vulnerability may have been exploited in combination with another security flaw in iOS and macOS, CVE-2025-43300. That flaw was eventually fixed in iOS 18.6.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.6.1, as well as macOS Ventura 13.7.8 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.8.
The affected WhatsApp versions are those prior to:
- WhatsApp for iOS 2.25.21.73 (current version is 2.25.23.82)
- WhatsApp Business for iOS 2.25.21.78 (current version is 2.25.23.82)
- WhatsApp for Mac v2.25.21.78 (current version is 2.25.22.79)
To update WhatsApp on an iPhone or iPad, launch the App Store app. Tap your profile icon in the upper right corner, and then tap and hold the screen, drag down, and then let go to trigger a check for app updates. The Available Updates screen should refresh to show available app updates. Tap the Update button to install.
Apple releases security patches through OS updates, so installing them as soon as possible is important. Macworld has several guides to help, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software, a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans, and a comparison of Mac security software.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor, Macworld
Roman is a Macworld Senior Editor with over 30 years of experience covering the tech industry, focusing on the Mac and other products in the Apple ecosystem. He is also the host of the Macworld Podcast. His career started at MacUser, where he received Apple certification as a repair technician (when Apple did that kind of thing). He's also worked for MacAddict, MacLife, and TechTV.